JP2001028717A - Information display device, information receiver and their methods - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily register desired key information with a simple configuration in an information display device. SOLUTION: A user extracts a display element extracted via an entry means 7 among index information displayed on a display means 8, the extracted display element is stored in a storage means as key information used in the case of retrieving the index information. Thus, the key information desired by the user can be registered by only having to operate the existing entry means 7 without separately providing an entry means and then the desired key information can easily be registered with a simple configuration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display apparatus, an information receiving apparatus, and a method thereof, for example, receiving a broadcast wave transmitted from a broadcasting station and displaying an image corresponding to the broadcast wave on a monitor. It is suitable to be applied to machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a broadcasting station which provides a broadcasting service by analog terrestrial broadcasting has been allocated an available frequency band in advance, and transmits program data of the station using the allocated frequency band. It has been made to be. The receiver installed at the viewer's house (hereinafter referred to as IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder))
In response to a channel selection operation performed by a viewer, program data of a desired broadcast station is selected from among program data transmitted from each broadcast station, and the program data of the selected broadcast station is decoded to provide an external monitor. To be displayed.

[0003]

In an analog terrestrial broadcasting system, electronic program guide information (hereinafter referred to as EPG (Electronic Program) is provided for the purpose of informing a viewer of a program provided from each broadcasting station.
It has been proposed that data indicating the content of each program called "gram guide) is periodically distributed from a specific broadcasting station. The EPG data is composed of information such as a program title, a broadcast date and time, a broadcast channel, and a description of the program, and is used as a basis for determining a program to be viewed by a viewer.

[0004] In this case, the IRD receives the EPG data periodically transmitted from the broadcasting station transmitting the EPG data, stores the EPG data in a memory, and stores the EPG data in accordance with the display operation of the viewer. Read from memory and display on external monitor. This allows the viewer to visually determine the program to be viewed while viewing the EPG data displayed on the monitor.

[0005] By the way, EPG data contains information on a huge number of programs, but the display screen of a monitor for displaying the EPG data is limited, so that IRD data is used.
Can display only information of a part of a huge number of programs on a display screen of a monitor. Therefore, the viewer
It is necessary to perform a scroll operation for searching for a desired program from a huge number of programs, and it is inevitable that the operation becomes complicated.

Therefore, in order to eliminate such a complicated search operation, a keyword for searching for a desired program from an enormous number of programs included in the EPG data is registered in advance, and the registered keyword is registered. It has been proposed to execute a search for a program based on the search result and display the search result on a display screen of a monitor.

In this case, as a keyword registration method for registering a keyword, a specific broadcast station designates a word that can be a keyword from EPG data in advance, transmits the designated word, and registers the designated word as a keyword on the IRD side. Or a method of extracting a word serving as a keyword from the EPG data based on a predetermined reference in which the IRD is predetermined. However, in these methods, there is a case where a word desired by a viewer cannot be registered as a keyword, and in this case, there is a problem that a user cannot search for a desired program.

Therefore, when the IRD searches for EPG data using, for example, the performer or genre of the program as a keyword, the transmitting side previously stores information such as the performer or genre in the description data of each program included in the EPG data. To be transmitted.

Accordingly, a method is provided in which a keyboard used in a personal computer is provided as input means for inputting a keyword, and a keyword desired by the user is input as a keyword by converting a keyword input from the keyboard into kanji. Can be considered. However, in this method, it is necessary to separately provide a keyboard, and an application for performing kanji conversion, etc.
Since a program is required, there is an unavoidable problem that the configuration becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is intended to propose an information display device, an information receiving device, and a method thereof that can easily register desired key information with a simple configuration. is there.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a display element designated by a user via an input means is extracted from heading information displayed on a display means, and the extracted element is extracted. By storing the displayed display element in the storage unit as key information used when searching for the heading information, it is possible to register the key information desired by the user only by operating the existing input unit without providing an additional input unit. Can be.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration of Analog Terrestrial Broadcasting System In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a configuration of an analog terrestrial broadcasting system as a whole, and transmission devices 2A to 2N installed in each broadcasting station transmit video signals of a program. And audio signals are transmitted via the transmitting antennas 3A to 3N, respectively. Relay device 4
Relays the broadcast waves transmitted from the transmission devices 2A to 2N, respectively, and distributes the broadcast waves to a receiver (hereinafter, referred to as an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder)) 5 installed in each viewer's house.

An IRD 5 as an information display device receives broadcast waves respectively distributed from a plurality of broadcast stations and receives the broadcast waves from a receiving antenna 6.
In response to a channel selection operation performed by the viewer (user) via the remote commander 7 as an input means, the viewer (user) selects the program data of the designated broadcast station from the received program data of the plurality of broadcast stations. Then, the program data of the selected broadcasting station is demodulated and output to the monitor 8 as a display means for display.

(2) Configuration of IRD As shown in FIG.
(FIG. 1) Command signal S transmitted by being superimposed on infrared rays
1 is received by the remote commander receiving unit 10, the command signal S1 is converted into an electric signal to generate a command signal S2, and then the command signal S2 is generated by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1.
Send to 1.

The CPU 11 has a ROM (Read Only Memory).
y) The control program stored in 12 is read out as needed, and the read out control program is stored in RAM.
(Random Access Memory) 13 for development. The CPU 11 reads out and executes the control program developed in the RAM 13 to control each circuit of the IRD 5.

The CPU 11 includes a remote commander receiving unit 1
When the command signal S2 transmitted from 0 is analyzed, and as a result, it is determined that the viewer has performed a channel selection operation on the remote commander 7 (FIG. 1), a channel selection signal S3 corresponding to the channel selection operation is generated. Generate and send it to the tuner 15.

The tuner 15 has a receiving antenna 6 (FIG. 1).
Channel selection signal S from broadcast waves received by
3 to extract a broadcast wave of a channel (broadcasting station) corresponding to the channel 3 and demodulate the broadcast wave of the extracted channel to generate an audio signal S5 and a video signal S6. While transmitting, the video signal S6
To the video processing unit 17.

The audio processing unit 16 converts the audio signal S5 from analog to digital, and then converts the audio signal S5 to MPEG (Moving Picture E).
The compression encoding is performed by an encoding method based on the (xperts Group) standard, and the resulting encoded audio data S7 is transmitted to the audio decoder 19 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18. After converting the video signal S6 from analog to digital, the video processing unit 17 compression-encodes the video signal S6 using an encoding method based on the MPEG standard, and transmits the resulting video encoded data S8 to the video decoder 20 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18. Send out.

The audio decoder 19 outputs the encoded audio data S
7 is decompressed and decoded, and the resulting audio data S9 is sent to a digital / analog (D / A) conversion circuit 21. D
The / A conversion circuit 21 restores the audio signal S10 before being input to the audio processing unit 16 by converting the audio data S9 from digital to analog, and outputs this to the monitor 8 (FIG. 1).

The video decoder 20 outputs the video encoded data S
8 is decompressed and decoded, and the resulting video data S11 is
It is sent to the GB encoder 22. RGB encoder 22
Converts video data S11 to NTSC (National Televisio
The video signal S12 is generated by converting the image signal into a luminance signal and a color difference signal of the n System Committee) system and by performing a digital-to-analog conversion, and sends it to the monitor 8 (FIG. 1).

Thus, the display screen 8A of the monitor 8 (FIG. 1)
, The video of the program selected by the viewer is displayed, and the sound of the program selected by the viewer is output from the speaker of the monitor 8.

In the analog terrestrial broadcasting system 1, electronic program guide information (hereinafter referred to as EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data) is provided for the purpose of notifying viewers of programs provided from the respective broadcasting stations. ) Is periodically distributed from a specific broadcasting station.

This EPG data is generated for each program, and as shown in FIG.
(IDentification), source broadcast station number, source broadcast station name, program start time, program length (or end time), program title, program subtitle supplementing the program title, program description and program description It is composed of information such as genre, and is used as a judgment material when a viewer decides a program to be viewed. Incidentally, the program ID, the broadcast station number and the genre are represented by code data, the broadcast station name, the program title, the program subtitle and the program description are represented by text data, and the start time and length are represented by time data.

Transmission device 2 installed in a specific broadcasting station
For example, one week of EPG data is superimposed on a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of a video signal, and is transmitted periodically every day using a time zone such as midnight or early morning.

In this case, the tuner 15 of the IRD 5 extracts the broadcast wave of the channel on which the EPG data is superimposed from the broadcast waves received by the receiving antenna 6 (FIG. 1), and converts the broadcast wave of the extracted channel. The video signal S15 is generated by demodulation and sent to the VBI slicer 25.

The VBI slicer 25 extracts the EPG data S16 from the video signal S15, transfers this to the RAM 13 via the bus BUS, and stores it. In this way I
RD5 is the EPG data S stored in the RAM 13.
16 every day, and always update the latest EPG data S16 to R
The information is stored in the AM 13.

In this state, when the viewer performs an operation for displaying the EPG screen on the remote commander 7 (FIG. 1), the remote commander 7 sends a command signal S1 for displaying the EPG screen to the remote commander receiving section 10. Send to The remote commander receiving unit 10 converts the command signal S1 into a command signal S2 composed of an electric signal, and sends the command signal S2 to the CPU 11.

When the CPU 11 detects that the command signal S2 has been supplied, the CPU 11 performs graphic processing on the EPG data S16 on the RAM 13 based on dictionary data such as characters and symbols stored in the ROM 12 to thereby execute EP processing.
The G screen data S17 is generated and sent to the graphic engine 26 via the bus BUS.

The graphic engine 26 converts the EPG screen data S17 into a luminance signal and a color difference signal of the NTSC system and performs digital-to-analog conversion to generate an EPG image signal S18, and sends it to the RGB encoder 22. The RGB encoder 22 mixes the video signal S12 and the EPG image signal S18 and
(FIG. 1), and an EPG screen corresponding to the EPG image signal S18 is displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8.

By the way, if the viewer is the remote commander 7
When an operation for recording video and audio of a program is performed in FIG. 1, the remote commander 7 transmits a command signal S1 for performing a recording operation to the remote commander receiving unit 10. The remote commander receiving unit 10 outputs the command signal S
1 is converted into a command signal S2 composed of an electrical signal,
To send to.

When the CPU 11 detects that the command signal S2 is supplied, the CPU 11 controls the operation of each circuit via the bus BUS to thereby control the remote commander 7 (FIG. 1).
The video and the audio of the program specified in are recorded. At this time, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18 includes the audio coded data S7 sequentially obtained through the tuner 15 and the audio processing unit 16, the tuner 15 and the video processing unit 17
Are multiplexed with the coded video data S8 obtained in order through the above to generate multiplexed data S20, which is transferred to the recording media unit 30 and recorded on a built-in recording medium (not shown).

At this time, when the CPU 11 determines that the recording of the program specified by the viewer has been completed, the RAM 1
Based on the EPG data S16 stored in advance in the storage medium 3, record title list data S21, which is a list of program titles recorded in the recording media unit 30, is generated and stored in the flash memory 31. The CPU 11
By updating the recording title list data S21 every time a new program is recorded in the recording media unit 30, the latest recording title list data S21 is always stored in the flash memory 31.

In this state, when the viewer performs an operation for displaying the recording title list screen on the remote commander 7 (FIG. 1), the remote commander 7 sends a command signal S1 for displaying the recording title list screen to the remote commander 7. The command is transmitted to the commander receiving unit 10. The remote commander receiving unit 10 converts the command signal S1 into a command signal S2 composed of an electric signal, and sends the command signal S2 to the CPU 11.

When detecting that the command signal S2 has been supplied, the CPU 11 transfers the recording title list data S21 to the RAM 13, and based on the dictionary data such as characters and symbols stored in the ROM 12, records the recording title list data S21 on the RAM 13. By performing graphic processing on the list data S21, recording title list screen data S22 is generated, and this is transferred to the graphic engine 2 via the bus BUS.
Send to 6.

The graphic engine 26 converts the recording title list screen data S22 into a luminance signal and a color difference signal of the NTSC system and performs digital-to-analog conversion to generate a recording title list image signal S23, which is sent to the RGB encoder 22. I do. The RGB encoder 22 mixes the video signal S12 and the recording title list image signal S23, outputs the mixed signal to the monitor 8 (FIG. 1), and displays the recording title list screen corresponding to the recording title list image signal S23 on the display screen of the monitor 8. 8A.

[0037] Here, the viewer operates the display screen 8 of the monitor 8.
When an operation for reproducing the video and audio of a desired program is performed on the remote commander 7 (FIG. 1) while watching the recording title list screen displayed on A, the remote commander 7 issues a command for performing a reproducing operation. The signal S1 is transmitted to the remote commander receiver 10. The remote commander receiver 10 converts the command signal S1 into a command signal S2 composed of an electric signal and sends the command signal S2 to the CPU 11.

When detecting that the command signal S2 is supplied, the CPU 11 controls the operation of each circuit via the bus BUS to thereby control the remote commander 7 (FIG. 1).
Is designed to reproduce the video and audio of the program specified. That is, the recording media unit 30 reads out the multiplexed data S25 of the specified program from the multiplexed data of the plurality of programs recorded on the built-in recording medium (not shown), and reads the multiplexed data S25 of the specified program. To send to.

The multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18 outputs the multiplexed data S25
Is separated into coded audio data S26 and coded video data S27, and among these, the coded audio data S26 is sequentially generated through the audio decoder 19 and the D / A conversion circuit 21 to generate an audio signal S28, and this is output to the monitor 8 (FIG. 1), and generates a video signal S29 from the video coded data S27 via the video decoder 20 and the RGB encoder 22 in order, and sends this to the monitor 8.

A CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read On)
ly Memory) 35 stores a program logo of a standard program and a face photo icon which is a photo of a representative performer of the standard program. The ROM decoder 36 reads the data of the program logo and the face photo icon from the CD-ROM 35 as program association data S35 for associating the program, and transfers the data to the flash memory 31 via the CPU 11 for storage.

(3) Configuration of Remote Commander FIG. 4 shows the external configuration of the remote commander 7, in which various operation keys are arranged on the front of the main body. Remote Commander 7
A power key 40 for turning on / off the power of the IRD 5, a numeric key 41 from "0" to "12" for selecting a channel (broadcasting station), and a volume for adjusting the volume of the IRD 5 Volume control key 42, channel selection key 43 for selecting channels in channel number order
Is provided.

In the middle of the front of the remote commander 7, a cursor movement key 44 for moving a cursor displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8, that is, a feed key 44A for moving the cursor rightward, and a cursor A return key 44B for moving the cursor leftward, a line return key 44C for moving the cursor upward, and a line feed key 44D for moving the cursor downward are provided, and the display position of the cursor is determined. Key 48 is provided.

Further, in the middle of the front of the remote commander 7, a keyword registration key 49 for registering a keyword as key information used for searching the EPG data S16, a keyword deletion key 50 for deleting a keyword, an EPG An EPG screen display key 51 for displaying a screen and a keyword search screen display key 52 for displaying a keyword search screen for searching for a keyword are provided. In addition, I
Various operation keys 53 for giving various instructions to the RD 5 are provided.

(4) Keyword Registration Processing Procedure and Keyword Search Processing Procedure In this embodiment, when the viewer specifies a word of interest from the EPG screen displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8, the IRD5 Registers this specified word as a keyword in advance. Then, the IRD 5 generates the EPG data S16 based on the registered keyword.
From the description data of each program included in the search for a program of description data in which a word matching the keyword exists,
The search result is displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8.

That is, when the viewer operates the EPG screen display key 51 provided on the remote commander 7,
The CPU 11 of the IRD 5 executes a keyword registration processing procedure shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, when the CPU 11 enters the keyword registration processing procedure RT1, it proceeds to step SP1.
In the EPG data S16 on the RAM 13
The screen data S17 is generated, and is generated by the monitor 8 via the graphic engine 26 and the RGB encoder 22 in order.
To the EPG screen 6 as shown in FIG.
0 is displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8.

Then, the CPU 11 proceeds to the next step SP2.
After the viewer operates the cursor movement key 44 of the remote commander 7 to display a cursor on a desired program among a plurality of programs displayed on the display screen 8A and select a program, It is determined whether or not the keyword registration key 49 has been selected, and the processing step SP2 is repeated until a positive result is obtained.

If a positive result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the description data of the selected program includes a word that can be registered as a keyword. At this time, the CPU 11 proceeds to step SP3. ,
As shown in FIG. 7, detailed information on a selected program, for example, “soccer relay” is displayed at the bottom of the EPG screen 60.

Then, the CPU 11 proceeds to the next step SP4
When the viewer operates the cursor movement key 44 on the remote commander 7, as shown in FIG. 8, from the detailed information displayed on the EPG screen 60, a word of interest to the viewer, for example, “Perusa” Set the cursor display position to the start position of.

Then, the CPU 11 operates the cursor movement key 44 after the viewer operates the enter key 48 on the remote commander 7 to thereby execute the following step SP.
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the display position of the cursor is moved to the end position of the word of interest of the viewer, and the keyword registration target word is designated.

When the viewer operates the enter key 48 on the remote commander 7, the CPU 11 operates as an extracting means, and extracts a specified word from the detailed information displayed on the EPG screen 60. Then CPU11
Moves to the subsequent step SP8, operates as key information registration means, stores the specified word as a keyword in the flash memory 31 as a storage means, and, as shown in FIG. EPG screen 60 displays message information indicating registration
To be displayed. Then, the CPU 11 ends the processing procedure in step SP9.

As described above, the CPU 11 repeats the above-described keyword registration processing procedure RT1 to sequentially store words of interest to the viewer as keywords in the flash memory 31.

When the viewer operates the keyword search screen display key 52 provided on the remote commander 7, the CPU 11 of the IRD 5 executes the keyword search processing procedure RT2 shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 11, the CPU 11
When the process enters step SP2, the device operates as search means, and proceeds to step SP10.
The keyword data S40, which is a group of keywords stored in the flash memory 31, is read, and based on the read keyword data S40, the RAM
13 generates keyword search screen data S41.

Then, the CPU 11 transmits the keyword search screen data S41 to the graphic engine 26 and the RG
By sequentially outputting the keywords to the monitor 8 via the B encoder 22, a keyword search screen 61 displaying a group of keywords registered in the past as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display screen 8 </ b> A of the monitor 8.

Then, the CPU 11 proceeds to the next step SP1.
When the viewer operates the cursor movement key 44 of the remote commander 7 as shown in FIG. 13, a desired keyword, for example, “Perusa” is selected from a plurality of keywords displayed on the keyword search screen 61 as shown in FIG. After selecting, when the search execution button 62 is selected, a program in which the selected keyword exists in the description data of the program is searched from a plurality of programs included in the EPG data S16.

Then, the CPU 11 proceeds to the next step SP1.
2, it operates as a display control unit, and displays a list of programs in which the selected keyword exists in the program description data as shown in FIG. 14 on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8. Then, the CPU 11 ends the processing procedure in step SP13.

When the registered keyword is to be deleted, the viewer operates the keyword deletion key 50 on the remote commander 7 so that the CPU 11
A keyword deletion screen 63 displaying a group of keywords stored in the flash memory 31 is displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8. In this state, the CPU 11
When the viewer selects a desired keyword, for example, “Perusa” from a plurality of keywords and selects the delete execution key 64, the selected keyword is deleted from the flash memory 31.

(5) Operation and Effect of the Embodiment In the above configuration, the CPU 11 allows the viewer to select a desired word of interest from the EPG screen displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8 via the remote commander 7. Is specified, the specified word is extracted from the EPG screen,
This is stored and registered in the flash memory 31 as a keyword for searching for a program. Thus, IRD5
By simply operating the remote commander 7 without separately providing an input means for inputting a keyword, a word desired by a viewer can be easily stored and registered in the flash memory 31 as a keyword.

Then, the CPU 11 searches a huge number of programs included in the EPG data 16 for a program that matches the taste of the viewer based on the registered keyword,
The search result is displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8.

Therefore, even if the description data of each program included in the EPG data S16 does not include, for example, information such as the performer and genre of the program, the performer and genre are stored in the flash memory 31 in advance as keywords. By doing so, it is possible to easily search for programs using these as keywords.

According to the above configuration, when an arbitrary word is specified via the remote commander 7 from the EPG screen displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8, the specified word is used as a keyword in the flash memory. By storing and registering in the key word 31, a word that the viewer pays attention to can be easily registered as a keyword only by operating the remote commander 7 without separately providing an input means for inputting a keyword. With the configuration, a keyword desired by the viewer can be easily registered in the IRD 5. Thus, the IRD 5 can search a huge number of programs included in the EPG data S16 for a program that matches the taste of the viewer based on the registered keyword.

(6) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, a case is described in which a word specified from the EPG screen displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8 is stored as a keyword in the flash memory 31. As described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, special characters such as "N" meaning a news program and "character" meaning that a subtitle superimposed exists in the program,
Various other display elements may be stored in the flash memory 31 as keywords.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where a desired keyword is selected from a plurality of keywords displayed on the keyword search screen 61 and a program search is executed based on the selected keyword. ,
The present invention is not limited to this, and the viewer selects two or more keywords desired by the viewer from among the plurality of keywords displayed on the keyword search screen 61, and the selected two or more keywords are all or any of them. The program existing in the data may be searched.

In the above-described embodiment, the EPG data S16 is searched based on a keyword selected from the keyword group displayed on the keyword search screen 61, and a program list corresponding to the search result is displayed on the monitor 8. Has been described on the display screen 8A, but the present invention is not limited to this.
In such a case, the timer recording may be set to record the searched program.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the search of EPG data S16 is executed based on a keyword registered in advance has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the registered keyword and the transmission side A search of the EPG data S16 may be executed based on a search condition that is combined with information such as a performer and a genre of a program added to the EPG data S16.

In this case, when the viewer operates the keyword search screen display key 52 provided on the remote commander 7, the CPU 11 of the IRD 5 displays the search condition setting screen 65 as shown in FIG. Screen 8
Display on A. The search condition setting screen 65 is a screen for setting search conditions for searching for a desired program from a huge number of programs included in the EPG data S16, and inputs and sets a keyword and a genre as search conditions. In addition to this, it is possible to set whether or not there is scheduled recording.

In this state, when the viewer operates the cursor movement key 44 on the remote commander 7 to move the cursor display position to the keyword input area 65A and then selects the enter key 48, the CPU 11 of the IRD 5 A keyword search screen 66 as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the display screen 8A of the monitor 8 based on the keyword group stored in the flash memory 31.

Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 11 operates the cursor movement key 4 of the remote commander 7
By selecting a desired keyword, for example, “Perusa” from a plurality of keywords displayed on the keyword search screen 66 by operating the “No. 4”, and selecting the enter key 48, as shown in FIG. 65A
, Input and set the selected keyword.

Similarly, when the viewer operates the remote commander 7 in the same manner, as shown in FIG. 20, the CPU 11 enters a large genre input area 65B for inputting a large genre for largely classifying programs. Automatic setting for inputting and setting a genre, inputting and setting a small genre in a small genre input area 65C for inputting a small genre for further classifying the inputted large genre program, and setting whether or not to make a scheduled recording Input ON or OFF in the setting area 65D.

Then, the CPU 11 stores the search condition input and set on the search condition setting screen 65 in the flash memory 31. In this state, the CPU 11
When the EPG data S16 stored in the RAM 13 is updated, the user's preference is selected from the vast number of programs included in the EPG data S16 based on the search conditions stored in the flash memory 31. Is searched, and a program list is displayed or programmed recording is set in accordance with the search result.

As described above, by executing a program search based on a search condition obtained by combining other search items such as a genre in addition to a keyword, the program can be further narrowed down as compared with a case where a search is performed based only on a keyword. You can perform a search.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a list of program titles is displayed on display screen 8A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and heading information indicating the content of predetermined information is displayed on display screen 8A. It can be widely applied to the case of displaying on a screen.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described for the case where the information received by IRD 5 of analog terrestrial broadcasting system 1 is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and digital satellite broadcasting or cable broadcasting Alternatively, the present invention can be widely applied to a case of displaying information sent via the Internet.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, a display element specified by the user via the input means is extracted from the heading information displayed on the display means, and the extracted display element is identified. By storing in the storage means as key information used when searching for information, the key information desired by the user can be registered simply by operating the existing input means without providing a separate input means, and thus simple. Desired key information can be easily registered with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an analog terrestrial broadcasting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the contents of EPG data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an external configuration of a remote commander.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a keyword registration processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a keyword search processing procedure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search result screen.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword deletion screen.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen in a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen in a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Analog terrestrial broadcasting system 2. Transmitting device
4 ... Relay device, 5 ... IRD, 7 ... Remote commander, 8 ... Monitor, 8A ... Display screen, 10 ... Remote commander receiving unit, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM,
13 RAM, 15 Tuner, 16 Audio processing unit, 17 Video processing unit, 18 Multiplexing / demultiplexing unit, 19
...... Audio decoder, 20 ... Video decoder, 21 ... D
/ A conversion circuit, 22: RGB encoder, 25: V
BI slicer, 30 ... recording media unit, 31 ... flash memory.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 27, 1999 (July 7, 1999
7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an analog terrestrial broadcasting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the contents of EPG data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an external configuration of a remote commander.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a keyword registration processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an EPG screen.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a keyword search processing procedure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search result screen.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword deletion screen.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen in a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyword search screen in a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a search condition setting screen according to another embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Analog terrestrial broadcasting system 2 ... Transmission device
4 ... Relay device, 5 ... IRD, 7 ... Remote commander, 8 ... Monitor, 8A ... Display screen, 10 ... Remote commander receiving unit, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM,
13 RAM, 15 Tuner, 16 Audio processing unit, 17 Video processing unit, 18 Multiplexing / demultiplexing unit, 19
...... Audio decoder, 20 ... Video decoder, 21 ... D
/ A conversion circuit, 22: RGB encoder, 25: V
BI slicer, 30 ... recording media unit, 31 ... flash memory.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/03 G06F 15/40 370Z 5K061 7/035 // G06F 17/30 (72) Inventor Aki Koyabu Tokyo 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Hanai 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 5B075 ND20 NK02 NR05 PP03 PQ02 5C025 BA25 BA27 BA28 CA03 CA09 CB08 CB09 DA01 DA04 5C056 AA05 BA02 BA03 BA06 BA10 CA20 DA01 EA06 EA12 5C063 AB01 AB03 AB05 AC01 AC05 AC10 CA11 CA12 CA23 DA03 DB02 EB03 EB33 EB42 EB50 5E501 AA19 AB05 EB03 FA05 EB33 FA05 5K061 AA09 BB07 DD00 DD11 FF01 GG11 HH08 JJ06 JJ07

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An information display device for displaying heading information indicating the content of predetermined information on a display means, wherein a display element designated by a user via an input means from the heading information displayed on the display means. An information display, comprising: an extraction unit for extracting the index information; and a key information registration unit for storing the display element extracted by the extraction unit in a storage unit as key information used when searching for the index information. apparatus. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of pieces of heading information are displayed on said display means. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, further comprising a search unit for searching. 3. An information display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display control means for displaying said searched heading information on said display means. 4. The information display device according to claim 2, further comprising a recording control means for recording the information corresponding to the searched heading information in a recording means. 5. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information is information on a broadcast program transmitted from a predetermined information transmitting means.
An information display device according to item 1. 6. An information receiving apparatus for receiving heading information indicating the content of information transmitted from a predetermined information transmitting means and displaying the heading information on a display means, wherein a user is selected from the heading information displayed on the display means. Extracting means for extracting a display element specified by the input means, and key information registering means for storing the display element extracted by the extracting means in a storage means as key information used when searching for the index information. An information receiving device comprising: 7. When displaying a plurality of the heading information on the display means, the heading information indicating the content of the information matching the user's preference is selected from the plurality of heading information based on the key information. 7. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a search unit for searching. 8. An information receiving apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising display control means for displaying said searched heading information on said display means. 9. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising recording control means for recording the information corresponding to the searched heading information in a recording means. 10. The information according to claim 6, wherein the information is information on a broadcast program transmitted from the information transmitting means.
An information receiving device according to claim 1. 11. An information display method for displaying heading information indicating the content of predetermined information on a display means, wherein a display element specified by a user via an input means from the heading information displayed on the display means. And extracting the extracted display elements in a storage unit as key information used when searching for the heading information. 12. When displaying a plurality of the heading information on the display means, the heading information indicating the contents of the information matching the user's preference is selected from the plurality of heading information based on the key information. The information display method according to claim 11, wherein a search is performed. 13. The information display method according to claim 12, wherein said searched heading information is displayed on said display means. 14. The information display method according to claim 12, wherein said information corresponding to said searched heading information is recorded in recording means. 15. The information display method according to claim 11, wherein said information is information of a broadcast program transmitted from a predetermined information transmitting means. 16. An information receiving method for receiving heading information indicating the content of information transmitted from a predetermined information transmitting means and displaying the information on a display means, wherein a user is selected from the heading information displayed on the display means. Extracting a display element designated by an input means, and storing the extracted display element in a storage means as key information used when searching for the heading information. 17. When displaying a plurality of the heading information on the display means, the heading information indicating the content of the information matching the user's preference is selected from the plurality of heading information based on the key information. 17. The information receiving method according to claim 16, wherein searching is performed. 18. The information receiving method according to claim 17, wherein said searched heading information is displayed on said display means. 19. The information receiving method according to claim 17, wherein said information corresponding to said searched heading information is recorded in recording means. 20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information is information of a broadcast program transmitted from said information transmitting means.
6. The information receiving method according to 6.